Means for producing milk drinks or foamed milk drinks

ABSTRACT

A means for producing milk drinks or foamed milk drinks, especially for a coffee machine, is envisaged with a capsule ( 1, 1′, 1 ″) containing a pre-determined quantity of milk for a single use. The capsule ( 1, 1′, 1 ″) can be positioned above an outlet ( 2 ) and heated. In addition means for opening the floor ( 9, 9   a ) to extract the milk from the capsule ( 1, 1′, 1 ″) should be provided, whereby air can be added to the milk exiting from the capsule ( 1, 1′, 1 ″) for a possible foaming of the milk. The means is simple and cost-effective and simple to maintain.

The invention concerns a means for producing milk drinks or foamed milk drinks according to the main description of claim 1.

A means of this type, especially envisaged for producing milk foam for cappuccino coffee, is for example known from EP-A-600 826. The milk is heated in a container enclosed by a heating vessel and pressed through a resistance processing element with the aid of a pump, in which the milk froth is produced through adding an air mixture. With this means all pipes and lines for the milk, i.e. from container to outlet, must be cleaned regularly, which involves a cumbersome cleaning procedure every time, and which necessitates a relatively complicated dismantling of the means from time to time.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a means of the type described above which allows a more simple maintenance process.

The task is solved in accordance with the invention by a means with the characteristics of claim 1.

Further preferred embodiments of the means of this invention form the subject of the subclaims.

The means of this invention is simple and cost-effective, and substantially reduces maintenance. Only the outlet, and possibly a resistance processing disc associated with the outlet, need to be cleaned and are easily accessible. In addition it is possible to select and dispense a desired milk or foamed milk drink in a very simple way.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, which illustrate the same in a schematic way:

FIGS. 1 to 3 show three embodiments of a means of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a means of this invention for producing milk or foamed milk drinks, which is envisaged especially for a coffee machine. A capsule 1 in the form of a bellows of the type of a concertina closed towards the front and compressible in the direction of the outlet 2 with an upper, vertically adjustable compression part 3 is positioned above the outlet 2. The bellows-shaped capsule 1 incorporates a further, also bellows-shaped part 4 which forms an annular space containing milk. This annular milk chamber 5 encloses an inner air chamber 6 filled with air. Instead of milk it can also contain aromatised milk, for example with vanilla, chocolate or other flavours.

A rotation adjustable resistance processing disc 7 equipped with a Lumber of preferably evenly circumferentially distributed resistance processing elements 7 positioned below the milk chamber 5 is associated with the outlet 2. A counter piece 10 representing a main component of the coffee machine, just like for example the disc 7 with the resistance processing elements as well as the outlet 2, co-operates with the floor 9 of the capsule 1 and is positioned above the disc 7. The counter piece 10, against which the capsule 1 with its floor 9 can be pressed with the aid of the compression part 3, is for example equipped with projections 11 which can perforate the floor 9 of the capsule 1 within the area of the milk chamber 5 as well as within the area of the air chamber 6 when the capsule 1 is compressed. Depending on the position of the disc 7 either only milk—cold or heated with a heating means not illustrated in detail here but described in more detail below—can be dispensed directly without having passed the resistance processing elements 8, or the heated milk can be forced through the resistance processing elements 8 together with air forced from the air chamber 6 and thereby foamed.

The means for the heating of the milk can be integrated into the capsule 1 and for example be realised with a heated wire (resistance heater). Other possibilities consist of affixing the heating means at that position of the means, i.e. the coffee machine, that is envisaged to receive the capsule 1, so that the same can act upon the surface of the capsule, whereby the capsule 1 must be manufactured accordingly, i.e. from a heat conducting material. The heating can also be achieved in a contact free manner, for example with microwaves or suchlike.

With the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the resistance processing disc 7′, i.e. 7″ forms a component of the capsule 1′, i.e. 1″, and is located below a double floor 9 a, 9 b forming a floor chamber 15 (FIG. 2 shows a single-piece resistance processing disc 7′, whereas the disc 7″ of FIG. 3 incorporates several resistance processing elements 8″). When the capsule 1′, i.e. 1″ is pressed onto the outlet part together with the resistance processing disc 7′, i.e. 7″ and perforates the floor 9 a, milk pressed out of the milk chamber 5 is mixed in the floor chamber 15 with air pressed out of the air chamber 6, then forced through the resistance processing disc 7′, i.e. 7″ and foamed. As illustrated in FIG. 3 additional air can be added into the air chamber 6 by applying a force onto compression part 3″ and compressing the capsule 1″ from above through an air nozzle 16 within the upper front part 17 of the capsule 1″.

The capsules 1, 1′, 1″ consist of disposable capsules which therefore preferably consist of a recyclable material. Preferably several capsules can be arranged within an adjustable, for example rotation adjustable magazine, and each one can be brought into the operating position above the outlet 2 through adjusting the magazine. The capsules may have different contents (aromatised or normal milk) and volumes. The embodiments according to FIGS. 2 and 3 can for example envisage capsules for the dispensing of only milk (cold or heated), which would not require the resistance processing disc 7′, i.e. 7″.

In place of a capsule 1, 1′, 1″ divided into a milk chamber 5 and an air chamber 6 the capsule could contain only milk, and the air could be added to the milk when the same leaves the capsule. The creation of froth can for example be achieved with a known method according to the Venturi principle.

In place of a bellows-shaped capsule 1, 1′, 1″ the milk or milk/air capsule of this invention could also be equipped with a solid casing and a piston component within the interior of the same for compressing the milk or the air.

The means of this invention is simple and cost-effective, and facilitates easier maintenance. Only the outlet, and with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the counter piece 10 associated with the outlet 2 as well as the resistance processing disc 7, requires cleaning and is easily accessible. In addition a desired milk or foamed milk drink can be easily selected and dispensed. 

1-12. (canceled)
 13. Means for producing milk drinks or foamed milk drinks, especially for a coffee machine, with means for heating of the milk or suchlike, as well as means for the mixing of air with the heated milk, wherein a capsule (1, 1′, 1″) containing a pre-determined quantity of milk is envisaged for disposable use, whereby the same is placed above an outlet (2) and heated, and in that means for opening the floor (9, 9 a) for the dispensing of the milk from the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) are available, whereby air can be added to the milk exiting from the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) for the possible creation of milk foam.
 14. Means according to claim 13, wherein the outlet (2) or the floor (9 a, 9 b) of the capsule (1′, 1″) is equipped with a resistance processing disc (7, 7′, 7″), through which the milk exiting from the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) can be conveyed.
 15. Means according to claim 13, wherein the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) takes the form of a bellows closed at the front and compressible under the influence of a force applied in the direction of the outlet (2) against the counter piece (10, 2).
 16. Means according to claim 13, wherein the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) incorporates a milk chamber (5) for the pre-determined quantity of milk as well as an air chamber (6) filled with air and separate from the same, whereby floor parts of the capsule associated with the two chambers (5, 6) can be perforated under influence of an applied force.
 17. Means according to claim 15, wherein the milk chamber (5) is formed by an annular chamber enclosing the bellows-shaped capsule (1, 1′, 1″) as well as the air chamber (6).
 18. Means according to claim 17, wherein an air nozzle (16) for an additional air supply can be inserted from above through an upper front part (17) of the capsule into the air chamber (6) during compressing of the bellows-shaped capsule (1, 1′, 1″).
 19. Means according to claim 14, wherein a counter piece (10) equipped with projections (11) for the perforating of the floor (9) and co-operating with the floor (9) of the capsule (1) is positioned above a resistance processing disc (7) associated with the outlet (2), against which the capsule (1) can be pressed, whereby the resistance processing disc (7) is rotation adjustable and equipped with a number of resistance processing elements (8) arranged in a circle.
 20. Means according to claim 13, wherein the means for the heating of the milk is integrated into the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) preferably in the form of a heated wire.
 21. Means according to claim 13, wherein the means for the heating of the milk is associated with the location of the means, i.e. the coffee machine envisaged for receiving the capsule (1, 1′, 1″) and functionally connected with the capsule surface.
 22. Means according to claim 13, wherein a number of capsules (1, 1′, 1″) are located within an adjustable magazine and can each be positioned above the outlet (2).
 23. Means according to claim 22, wherein capsules (1′, 1″) optionally filled with only milk or also with air and with or without resistance processing discs (7′ 7″) can be used, whereby capsules with different volumes and different contents (milk or variously aromatised milk) can also be used.
 24. Capsule containing a pre-determined quantity of milk, for a means according to claim
 13. 